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Untitled Article
the expressions or declarations of that Worship bxitwslrdly , in ajnd by the use of those ordinances that are appointed by CHrist for that purpose . The second part of it consists in . works of righteousness and mercy towards all men , done in obedience to the will of
God , and in imitation of his justice and goodness to the whole world . The first part being wholly
built upon the foundation of revealed truths ^ doth in its own nature absolutely exclude all possibility ' of map ' s being lord of hi * brothe / s faith , unless the under *
standing or faith of a magistrate could constrain the faith or understanding of others , to be obedient to his r or father to be transformed into tjbe likeness of his ; Wld therefor ^ j therein every man must stand or fall to his own
master , and having done his duty , rigjbtly tb inform his neighbour ^ tyuat give a& account to God , of himself only . But the second part of religion falls both under the cognizance or judgment of man , and the
lawsoaker ' s or magistrate ' s power . Christ hath taught his followers to judge of men ' s religion by their works : u By their fruits , * saith k * > < c ye shall know them , / iov men do not gather grapes of thorns , " Whosoever , be it a
court s w an arjny , or a single person , pretend to religion and yet remain treacherous therein &ey are trusted , and continue in the bread ! of their promises , and
* re not conscientious to do to others , as they would that they * ould da to them * but can , Without regard to justice , seise by force of arms upon the people ' * ? oju vi . N
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rights , due to them by God ' s law of nature an 4 their ancestors ' agreement ; and subject their persons and estates to their wills or
their ambition and covetousness , and make themselves great by oppressions out of the people ' s purses ; those men ^ religion men may clearly judge , being vain by
the scripture ' s judgment , yea their prayers and their preaching as abominable in God ' s eyes , as were the fasts , new moons and sabbaths of the Jews , whichwere then also God ' s ordinances , whilst their hands were defiled with blood and
oppression > and the works of righteousness and mercy neglected . - It properly belongs to the governing powers to restrain men from irreligion in this second part
of religion , that is , from injustice , faith-breaking , cruelty , oppression and attotber evil works , that are plainly evil , without the divine light of truths that are only revealed ; ' aftd it is the duty of
governing powers to compel mea to this part of religion , th ^ t % is f to the outward acts of justice and mercy ; for the inward truth of men ' s religion , even in these , is beyond the magistrate ' s power or judgment .
1 Fourthly , they say that nothing is more destructive to true reli . gion , nor of worse consequence to huraafi society , than the quarrels
of nations or persons about their difference of faith and worship , and the use of force and punishments , each to compel the other to be of his belief . It canrtot be
clenied that God ia his infinite secret wisdom , is pleased to cause his spirit to enlighten men ' s -minds with several degrees of light , and
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principles qf the Leoelhrs t 1659 . S $
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), Feb. 2, 1811, page 89, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2413/page/25/
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